[ Press Release ]
Four Energy Lawyers Join Duane Morris in Washington, D.C.
February 7, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 7, 2007 - Duane Morris LLP is pleased to welcome Michael Kessler and David DeSalle, both formerly of Powell Goldstein LLP, as partners in the firm's Washington, D.C. office. Both will join the firm's Energy, Environment and Resources Practice Group, a growing practice for the firm with a strong presence in Washington. Also joining the firm's energy practice are Daniel Malabonga and Michael Splete, formerly of Powell Goldstein.
Michael Kessler focuses his practice on federal and state energy regulatory matters, as well as matters relating to energy project development and finance, including energy transmission issues, energy sales and interconnection, and operation and maintenance agreements. He has extensive experience counseling independent power project developers and producers, representing entities in the privatization of utility assets, as well as companies operating in retail energy markets. He has also acted in an in-house capacity, having served as general counsel and vice president for American Energy Solutions, Inc., a consumer-oriented retail energy services provider based in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a member of the Energy Bar Association, as well as the District of Columbia and American bar associations, and has published articles and spoken on competitive wholesale energy markets.
Michael graduated with a B.A. from Brown University in 1975 and earned his J.D., cum laude, from Vermont Law School in 1980.
David DeSalle concentrates his practice on energy regulatory and transactional issues as well as civil litigation matters. He represents a diverse array of energy clients before federal and state regulatory bodies, and has counseled electric utilities and natural gas suppliers in restructuring cases and merger proceedings. In addition, he served as counsel and government affairs coordinator for the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council, a trade association, where he was involved in the legislative and regulatory issues surrounding electricity deregulation and retail competition in the state. He is a member of the Energy Bar Association, as well as the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania and American bar associations.
David earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1995. He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in 1992.
Daniel Malabonga earned his LL.B., and his A.B., both cum laude, from the University of the Philippines in 1983 and 1979, respectively.
Michael Splete earned his J.D., with honors, from The George Washington University Law School in 2002 and graduated with a B.A. from Cornell University in 1994.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP, among the 100 largest law firms in the world, is a full-service firm of more than 600 lawyers. In addition to legal services, Duane Morris has independent affiliates employing approximately 100 professionals engaged in other disciplines. With offices in major markets, and as part of an international network of independent law firms, Duane Morris represents clients across the United States and around the world.